Increase in Botnet Traffic Observed within United Kingdom; Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications a network providing firm recently published fresh research on networks of bot-infected computers along with the dangers these botnets pose following a monitoring exercise of more than 1,000 C2 (command-and-control) infrastructures in Q1-2015. The company discovered United Kingdom as ranking No.8 globally so far as it generated C2 traffic, with the country contributing 12% of the total round the world.

The research titled "Safeguarding the Internet: Level 3 Botnet Research Report" follows after Level 3 Communications watched more than 66% of e-traffic globally hunting out malicious operations, thus published itproportal.com dated June 9, 2015.

In spite of massive shutdowns such as Ramnit, cyber-crime continues to favor con artists in terms of revenue earned. In 2014, according to Dell SecureWorks, hiring any 1,000 server containing botnet based in UK cost $120/month accounting for a 600% rise over that of 2013, as well as it meant a profitable transaction for those owning the botnet.

Nevertheless, the research shows that USA generated the maximum volume of C2 traffic from an expansive network along with stock of lucrative points prone to attack. On No.2 was Ukraine followed with Russia, Holland and Germany.

And as for regions receiving the maximum bot traffic, again UK ranked No.8 within Europe, with Norway and Spain leading the European list.

It was also observed that there is one robustly rising phenomenon of botnets-as-a-service.

According to Level 3, it's highly likely that plentiful such botnets serve as revenue earning means while being components of diversified enterprise. Thus, they possibly fulfill several profitable utilities such as phishing activities, DDoS attacks and malware distribution. Itpro.co.uk reported Level 3's observations dated June 11, 2015.

The company further says it's profitable to operate botnets that don't require any complex setup. After a botnet is shutdown, it isn't expensive to build, keep as well as shift it. Botnets terminated have the capability to return online in just hours thereafter, adds Level 3.

Meanwhile, Trustwave the security company within its Global Security Report of 2015 discovered that the return-on-investment to attackers leveraging ransomware or exploit kit campaigns massively through botnet distribution accounted for more than 1,400%.

» SPAMfighter News - 6/18/2015